What to do if you’ve just been hijacked?

People are usually shocked and traumatised after being a victim of a hijacking, and motorists don’t know what the procedure is should their stolen vehicle be located and retrieved by the police. Law For All has put together a guide to help you through the process.

I have just been hijacked – what do I do now?

1. If there were other people in the vehicle with you, check if anyone has been hurt or needs medical attention.

2. Report the hijacking to the police and get a case number (this will also help for your insurance claim, assuming you are covered). If the vehicle isn’t yours, get the owner to do the above immediately.

3. Activate your vehicle’s tracking device, if one has been fitted.

4. Your insurance company will send someone to interview you (or the owner) to get more details on what happened, so try and remember as much as you can about the incident.

5. This can be a very traumatic experience, so it might be helpful to seek some sort of counselling to help you deal with the aftermath.

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If the SAPS finds your vehicle, it’s important to remember that the process doesn’t just end there. The is a specific procedure that needs to be followed for a successful reinstatement of the stolen vehicle and insurance claims.

If the hijackers are caught you may have to identify them and, if the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decides to prosecute, be a witness in court.

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